diff --git a/lib/image_optim.rb b/lib/image_optim.rb
index 3a3ff80c..8a2cd682 100644
--- a/lib/image_optim.rb
+++ b/lib/image_optim.rb
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ class ImageOptim
   # Cache worker digests
   attr_reader :cache_worker_digests
 
+  # Timeout
+  attr_reader :timeout
+
   # Initialize workers, specify options using worker underscored name:
   #
   # pass false to disable worker
@@ -76,6 +79,7 @@ def initialize(options = {})
       allow_lossy
       cache_dir
       cache_worker_digests
+      timeout
     ].each do |name|
       instance_variable_set(:"@#{name}", config.send(name))
       $stderr << "#{name}: #{send(name)}\n" if verbose
diff --git a/lib/image_optim/cmd.rb b/lib/image_optim/cmd.rb
index decfabf4..e9bc1915 100644
--- a/lib/image_optim/cmd.rb
+++ b/lib/image_optim/cmd.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 require 'English'
+require 'timeout'
 
 class ImageOptim
   # Helper for running commands
@@ -15,6 +16,32 @@ def run(*args)
         success
       end
 
+      # Run commands using `Process.spawn`
+      # Return success status
+      # Will raise Timeout::Error when command timeouts
+      def run_with_timeout(timeout, *args)
+        success = false
+
+        if timeout > 0
+          pid = spawn_process(*args)
+
+          begin
+            Timeout.timeout(timeout) do
+              Process.wait(pid, 0)
+              check_status!
+              success = $CHILD_STATUS.exitstatus.zero?
+            end
+          rescue Timeout::Error => e
+            cleanup_process(pid)
+            raise e
+          end
+        else
+          success = run(*args)
+        end
+
+        success
+      end
+
       # Run using backtick
       # Return captured output
       # Will raise SignalException if process was interrupted
@@ -44,6 +71,43 @@ def check_status!
 
         fail SignalException, status.termsig
       end
+
+      def cleanup_process(pid)
+        Thread.new do
+          Process.kill('-TERM', pid)
+          Process.detach(pid)
+
+          begin
+            Timeout.timeout(10) do
+              begin
+                Process.getpgid(pid)
+              rescue Errno::ESRCH
+                sleep 0.001
+                retry
+              end
+            end
+          rescue Timeout::Error
+            Process.kill('-KILL', pid)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+
+      def spawn_process(*args)
+        pgroup_opt = Gem.win_platform? ? :new_pgroup : :pgroup
+
+        if args.last.is_a?(Hash)
+          args.last[pgroup_opt] = true
+        else
+          args.push(pgroup_opt => true)
+        end
+
+        if Process.respond_to?(:spawn)
+          Process.spawn(*args)
+        else
+          args.pop if RUBY_VERSION < '1.9'
+          Process.fork{ exec(*args) }
+        end
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/image_optim/config.rb b/lib/image_optim/config.rb
index 80d73922..a9d36855 100644
--- a/lib/image_optim/config.rb
+++ b/lib/image_optim/config.rb
@@ -157,6 +157,11 @@ def cache_worker_digests
       !!get!(:cache_worker_digests)
     end
 
+    def timeout
+      timeout = get!(:timeout)
+      timeout ? timeout.to_i : 0
+    end
+
     # Options for worker class by its `bin_sym`:
     # * `Hash` passed as is
     # * `{}` for `true` or `nil`
diff --git a/lib/image_optim/worker.rb b/lib/image_optim/worker.rb
index 75f53723..1ca83f71 100644
--- a/lib/image_optim/worker.rb
+++ b/lib/image_optim/worker.rb
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ class ImageOptim
   class Worker
     extend ClassMethods
 
+    class Timeout < Timeout::Error; end
+
     class << self
       # Default init for worker is new
       # Check example of override in gifsicle worker
@@ -151,7 +153,16 @@ def run_command(cmd_args)
           {:out => Path::NULL, :err => Path::NULL},
         ].flatten
       end
-      Cmd.run(*args)
+
+      if @image_optim.timeout > 0
+        begin
+          Cmd.run_with_timeout(@image_optim.timeout, *args)
+        rescue ::Timeout::Error
+          raise ImageOptim::Worker::Timeout
+        end
+      else
+        Cmd.run(*args)
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/image_optim/cmd_spec.rb b/spec/image_optim/cmd_spec.rb
index 7640fc50..0e39c98e 100644
--- a/spec/image_optim/cmd_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/image_optim/cmd_spec.rb
@@ -41,6 +41,32 @@ def expect_int_exception(&block)
     end
   end
 
+  describe '.run_with_timeout' do
+    it 'calls spawn and returns status' do
+      expect(Cmd.run_with_timeout(20, 'sh -c "exit 0"')).to eq(true)
+      expect($CHILD_STATUS.exitstatus).to eq(0)
+
+      [1, 66].each do |status|
+        expect(Cmd.run_with_timeout(20, "sh -c \"exit #{status}\"")).
+          to eq(false)
+
+        expect($CHILD_STATUS.exitstatus).to eq(status)
+      end
+    end
+
+    it 'raises Timeout::Error if process timeouts' do
+      expect{ Cmd.run_with_timeout(0.001, 'sleep 1') }.
+        to raise_error(Timeout::Error)
+    end
+
+    it 'calls system if timeout is <= zero' do
+      expect(Cmd.run_with_timeout(0, 'sh -c "sleep 0.001; exit 0"')).to eq(true)
+
+      expect(Cmd.run_with_timeout(-1, 'sh -c "sleep 0.001; exit 1"')).
+        to eq(false)
+    end
+  end
+
   describe '.capture' do
     it 'calls ` and returns result' do
       output = double
diff --git a/spec/image_optim/config_spec.rb b/spec/image_optim/config_spec.rb
index f6bd20f8..0a7b288a 100644
--- a/spec/image_optim/config_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/image_optim/config_spec.rb
@@ -94,6 +94,22 @@
     end
   end
 
+  describe '#timeout' do
+    before do
+      allow(IOConfig).to receive(:read_options).and_return({})
+    end
+
+    it 'is 0 by default' do
+      config = IOConfig.new({})
+      expect(config.timeout).to eq(0)
+    end
+
+    it 'converts value to number' do
+      config = IOConfig.new(:timeout => '15')
+      expect(config.timeout).to eq(15)
+    end
+  end
+
   describe '#for_worker' do
     before do
       allow(IOConfig).to receive(:read_options).and_return({})